The Lion Tree

In the middle of the Busanga Plains, a Zambian wetland in the north of the Kafue National Park, stands an enormous fig tree on the top of a rise that looks out over the wetlands, home to thousands of lechwe. This is the territory of a pride of lions whose lineage stretches back many generations. Change is coming to the fig tree pride. Big John, the alpha male, has disappeared, most probably lured into the neighbouring hunting area, never to be seen again. Two contenders to take over Big John’s pride have appeared on the plains: a young male starting out on his quest for a pride of lionesses and an old, battle-worn male whose only chance of survival rests on gaining a pride of females to support him in his hunts.